Direction indicator



Aug. 23, 1932. LQ 1,873,576

DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Dec. 16. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR,

flaw/((501021,

ATTORNEY.

23, 1932- F. M. GOLON DIRECTIQN INDICATOR.

Filed Dec. .16, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR) flank M fialan,

Ofm 10- Q ATTORNEY.

V 25 rection desired.

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 i r f I a UNITED STATES PATENT opm g FRANK M. GOLON, SPRINGFIEIiD, if i DIRECTION Innrohroa V i Q 7 Application filed December 16, 1931. Serial $581,287.

My invention'relates to improvements in Fig. 3 is a detail plan sectional view on" direction indicators, and more particularly the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in theidi to that type of direction indicator intended rection of the-arrows. for use on motor Vehicles. Fig. 4 is a detail view ofthe operable con- 6 An object of my invention is to provide a necting means between the control post and 55 simple, sturdy, practical device for indicatthe indicator shaft; 7 y g ing to any one in front of or 'behind a mo- Fig. is'a detail view illustrating the front. tor vehicle the direction in which the'driver and rear indicator boxes, the indicator shaft,

of the vehicle intends to proceed, such as forand the connecting means between the shaft 10 ward, a turn in either direction, or stop. and the boxes. y Y I A further object of my invention is to Fig. 6 is a typical sectional view of one 'provide an operative or controlling means; of the shaft bearings. r

for my direction indicator independent, of '1 Fig. 7 is a front elevationalview ofthe the steering mechanism of the motor'vehicle. front direction indicator boX. I V I Devices are now in use and on the market 7 Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view of the 5 V which are operated by the steering mechafront directionindicator box, and a nism, but these devices are impractical for Fig. is an elevational view of therear several reasons. They do not operate until direction indicator boX. i the vehicle begins to turn, which is toolate Referring now to the drawings in detail,

to give sufficient warning or notice to an in which like numerals-refer to like parts 70' approaching or following car; F urthermore, throughout: they are inoperative when the motorvehicle The motorvehiclelhas secured to the left is at a standstill, and, therefore, it is 'imposfront fender Qthe'front indicator box 3, and sible toindicate to a traffic officer the di-' to theframel of the motor vehicle 1 at the left rear the rear indicatorbox 5. It will be 75 A still further object of my invention is understood that whereas I have shown these to provide a directionindicator which will approximate positions for the indicator indicate directions other than, and in Iadboxes, the flexibility of the connections be dition to, right angles, as many streets intween the; boXesand the shaft will permit tersect at other than right angles, and contheboxes to'be placed inother positionson ,3

fusion is avoided byv providing my indicator the motor vehiclel, if so desired. 5 V with means for indicating these halfway 1' The shaft 6 is secured to the frame 4 byangles or positions. I 1 means of the bearing brackets 7, and the Broadly, my invention comprises a front front indicator is operably connected to the indicator member, a rear indicator member, shaft 6' by the belt 8 and pulleys'9 and 10, 85 operable connecting means between these and the rear :indicator is operably connected members, a manually operated control post, to the shaftfi by the belt lland pulleys 1-2 connecting means between the control post and 13. The gearbox l is securedtothe and the indicator connecting means, and floor board 1'5"ofthe'motor vehicle 1 means 011 the control post for holding the means ofthe flanged hub 16, and has secured 90 post in any one'of the direction positions. therein. the gears 17 and 18 and thesprock- A preferred embodiment of my invention et. 19. The gear 17 and sprocket 19 are is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, mounted on the shaft-20, and the sprocket in which: V 19 is'connected tofthe shaft 6 by means of Fig.1-isa plan view of a motor vehicle the chain 21 and sprocket 22. (See Fig. 4:.) 95 showing the relative positions ,of the 'direcg The chain 21 passes through openings 23 tion indicator boXes and their operating formed-inthe frame 4.- The control post 24 means. is secured to the :gear 18 and revolvably sup- Fig. 2 is a detail view, partially in sec ported in ther-hub. 16 and the bracket-25' tion, of the control post, and holdingm'eans. which'is secured'to the dash 26 of "the motor 1 vehicle 1. The control post 24 is convenient- 1y located near the steering post 27, and has secured at its upper end the operating wheel '28. The holding collar 29 is secured to the post- 24, and is formed with the notches or recesses 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35, so located around the periphery of the collar 29 as to correspond with the directions shown by the indicator arrows, namely, left, left oblique,

forward, right oblique, right, and stop, respectively. .The spring 36,'sec'ured tothe steering post 27, retains the post 24in the desired position, until the post 24 is manually revolved by turning of the wheel 28. The control post 24 may also be operated by action ofjthe drivers footor knee on the lever 37 The lever-37 is frictionally secured in;

the bracket 38 which is' 'inturn clamped to the post 24 by means of the screws 39. 'The lever 37 may be pushed into or pulled out of a the bracket 38, and the bracket 38 may be raised or lowered on'the post 24 to suit the v convenience of individual drivers.

' The belt 8 is .,The shaft 6 is secured tothe frame 4 of the vehicle '1 by the bearing brackets 7. The bearing brackets 7are formed with .the ball race 40, see Fig. 6, in which aresecured a-plur ality of balls 41 which are engaged in the groove 42 formed in the bearing sleeve 43.

v The sleeve 43 is loosely fitted in the bracket is secured onthe shaft 52.which is revolvae v bly. secured in the bearing bracket 53.. Metal discs 54 and 55'.are secured to the shaft 52 just 1 inside of the glass panes 48 and 49, respectively. The lamp bulb 56xis secured to the,

inside of the box 3 andelectrically connected totheusuallighting'system'of the motor vehicle, not shown. The'glass pane.48 is let .tered with the words-Right,' Ahead,

Left, and Stop, as indicated in Fig.7, and the glass pane 49'is lettered with the reand Stop, as indicated in Fig. 8. .Themetal' discs 54: and 551are formed with-ithev arrow-shaped openings 57 and 58and the seg mental notches 59 and 60, respectively. The

positions ofthe left oblique. and right oblique are indicated by the arrow-shapedopenings only; 'Theopeni'ngs. 57 2111(1158 areoutlined inzwhite enamel'6l, for daylight use. The rear indicator box .5 is constructed in a sim 'ilar manner. :The belt '11 is'e'nclosedin the.

metal casing 62 -which is secured to the frame position desired.

, ing 72, inwhich is secured the red glass 73 and the openings 7 4 which form the letters .Slo. Lamps 7 5 and 7.6 are secured within 'the boX 5 back ofthe openings 72 and 74.

The lamp 7 5 is electricallyconnectedto the usual lighting system, not shown, and serves to illuminate the lens '7 3, the license .plate 7 77 through theopening 78 in the boX 5, and

the openings 70 and 71. Thelamp 76 is elec tricallyconnected to the braking system in the usual manner. The license plate 7'7 is secured tobars 77 in'the usual manner, and

the bars 77 are secured to the casing 62 in any sultable manner.

7 When operated at night, the lamps '56 and 75 shine through thearrow-shaped openings;- 57, 58, and 70, and the segmental openings 59, 60 and 71, thus indicating the direction in. which the driver intends to guide the vehicle. The metal discs 54, 55, and-69 obstruct the light, except that which passes through-these;

openings, thus concealingall the words on the glass panes 48, 49, and 64, except those which register with the openings'59, 60' and71.v he arrow 57 is visible from the front of vthe vehicle, the arrow 58 is visible'to the driver, and the arrow 7 Dis visible to-therear ofthe.

vehicle. In daylight, the. enamel outlining of the arrows and the notches in the metal discs54, 55 and 69 serve the same purpose as the lamps at night.

. In operation,vthe operator,

by inani ula-l tion of the handle 28 or the lever37, actuates the control rod 24 which, byineans of the gears 17 land 18, sprockets 19 and 22, chain a 21, shaft 6, pulleys 9, 10, 12,.and 13, and belts 8 and 11, moves the discs 54, 55, and 69 to the This position. is main'-. tained by engagementof the spring 36in theproper notch in the. collar 29'until the con-f -trol rod is again manipulated spective words Left, .Ahead, Righti,

What I'claim isz V f 1. A, direction indicator comprising, in combination with a motorvehicle, a longitudinally extending shaft,ball bearing means by the driver;

for rotatably supporting the shaft, direction' indicators located at the forward and rearward end of the vehicle, operative con-- nect ons' between the shaft and each of the direction indicators, means for operating thecators in difierent adjustable positions comprising a second, shaft located adjacent the steering wheel of the vehicle a'nd' operably shaft and for retaining the shaft and ind'if connected to the longitudinally extending shaft, a notched member on the secondshaft, and a spring device engaging the notches, as described.

2. A direction indicator comprising a casing the opposite ends of which are closed with transparent material, a source of light,

a shaft rotatably mounted within the casing,

a disc on each of the opposite ends of the shaft and formed with a cutout portion in eral intermediate positions otherthan at right angular positions, comprising a second shaft operatively connected to the first named shaft, a notched disc on the second shaft, a spring engaging the notches of the disc, and adjustable means on the disc-supporting shaft for operating the same with the leg of the operator.

FRANK M. GOLON.

the shape of an arrow, means for rotating the V shaft for placing the arrows in different posi tions, said casing having words thereon indi cating the direction the vehicle is to proceed, and each disc being shaped to bar the light from all of the words, except the one that is readable to indicate the desired direction by the arrow. 7

3. A tail light for a motor vehicle comprising a casing, a rotatable shaft therein,'a disc secured to the shaft with a cutout opening in the shape of an arrow, means for illuminating,

the interior of the casing to display the arrow, the casing having an extension portion to show a stop light, means for attaching a number plate below the casing, in position to be illuminate-d from the interior thereof through an opening formed in the bottom positioned to register with only the direc-' tion word adjacent to the end of its arrow, means for illuminating the casing, and means for operating the rotatable shaft from the V drivers seat. 7

5. A traffic signal device for motor vehicles comprising a casing having its opposite ends closed with transparent material, and direction words on the transparent material, a rotatable shaft in the casing, discs on the shaft formed each with a cutout portion to indicate an arrow, each disc having its edge formed with a cutout portion registering only with the direction word adjacent the end of its arrow, means for illuminating the casing, and means for operating the rotatable shaft from the drivers seat, said means comprising a shaft rotatably mounted on the motor vehicle, connecting means between the two shafts, and means for adjustably positioning the shafts and discs for indicating different positions of the arrows.

6. In a direction indicating and signal device for motor vehicles, a shaft attached to the vehicle, direction indicating devices at the opposite ends of the vehicle, means for operating the devices from the shaft, means for retaining the indicating devices at sev- 

